//------------------------------// // Discord and Starlight's Excellent Adventure // Story: Pony Tails // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// It was morning in Ponyville. Inside Twilight's castle, she and Starlight were preparing for another day of friendship studies. "Okay, I was thinking we might take a look at altruism, followed by a few pointers about compromise..." Twilight ran down the lesson plan. "Sounds good to me." Starlight nodded, eager to learn. As they entered the study, Twilight saw a large red apple sitting on a table. "That's odd." She mused. "I don't remember bringing food in here." "Me neither." Starlight nodded. "Maybe Spike did?" "I don't think so." Twilight smiled. "He'd have eaten it already." Suddenly, the apple began shaking. As Twilight and Starlight moved in closer, it swelled up like a balloon, and exploded into confetti. In the center of the explosion, Discord appeared in a flash of light. "Ta-daaa!" The Spirit of Chaos bowed. "How's that for an entrance?" "Discord." Twilight rolled her eyes. "I should've known..." "What brings you here?" Starlight asked, pulling a piece of confetti out of her mane. "Oh, I just thought I'd leave an apple for teacher." Discord smirked. "These friendship lessons of yours seem to be going very well, don't they?" "I like to think so, yes." Twilight nodded. "It helps that I have such a dedicated student." "And that I have such a great teacher." Starlight beamed. "Well, aren't you just a regular mutual admiration society?" Discord smirked. "It's so touching that you've developed such a strong teacher/student bond." He flashed himself beside Starlight, wearing a schoolboy outfit. "But I've been learning about friendship longer than you have. Perhaps miss Twilight needs to speed up the curriculum. Don't want me leaving you in the dust, do you? That would look bad for both teacher and student." He conjured up dunce caps for both Twilight and Starlight. "Not to mention utterly humiliating!" Twilight and Starlight glared at him, unamused. "What?" Discord snorted, flashing away the caps. "I kid!" He pulled both ponies into a hug. "I kid, because I love!" "And because you think it's funny." Twilight rolled her eyes again. "Yeah, that too." Discord smirked, putting them down. "Well, I suppose I should leave you to your little lesson. Happy learning!" Discord vanished in a flash of light. "Okay, now that's over, let's get on to the lessons." Twilight smiled. "Gladly." Starlight nodded. Just as they were about to get to work, Spike entered the room. "Sorry to interrupt the lesson, Twi." He apologized. "But Mayor Mare needs you over at the town hall to discuss this year's Summer Sun Celebration." "Oh, duty calls..." Twilight sighed. "Sorry about this, Starlight." "Hey, I understand." Starlight smiled. "You have your royal duty to attend to." "I'll be back as soon as I can." Twilight declared. "Why don't you read a book or two while you wait?" "You don't have to tell me twice." Starlight grinned. As Twilight left with Spike, Starlight selected a book, and started reading. After several moments of silent enjoyment, Discord suddenly returned, appearing in miniature form inbetween the pages of the book. "Ahh!" Starlight yelped, dropping the book in shock. "Whoops!" Discord chuckled. "Forgot you're not as used to my dramatic entrances as the others..." "Back so soon?" Starlight frowned. "What, was there a joke you forgot to make before?" "Not exactly." Discord declared. "I just noticed Twilight heading across town. Important Princess business, I presume?" "That's right." Starlight nodded. "She suggested I catch up on my reading until she gets back." "Well, that sounds deeply boring." Discord rolled his eyes. "Why not try something more... fun?" "This is fun to me." Starlight declared. "Ugh, like teacher, like student." Discord snorted. "Why don't you let me show you some real fun? It'll be better than just sitting around here for who knows how long." "A tempting offer." Starlight frowned, unconvinced. "But I think I'll pass." "Well, if you'd prefer to be some goody-four-horseshoes student who just spends all day studying, be my guest." Discord sneered. "I will." Starlight declared. "You know, somehow, I expected better from you." Discord huffed. "And what's that supposed to mean?" Starlight asked. "I actually thought you were quite an effective leader during our little rescue mission." Discord admitted. "I've never been one for following orders, but you gave us some pretty good ones. But look at you now, mindlessly following Twilight's instructions, like some brainwashed drone." "Excuse me?" Starlight frowned. "Or perhaps 'teacher's pet' would be a better term." Discord smirked. "What's next on the lesson plan? How to roll over and play dead?" "Knock it off, Discord." Starlight growled. "Or what?" Discord sneered. "You'll tattle on me to teacher?" "Ha-ha, very funny." Starlight scowled. "What, can't handle a little fun?" Discord taunted her. "Or is that you don't even know how to have fun?" "I know how to have fun!" Starlight retorted. "Well then, you won't mind proving it." Discord smirked. "Will you?" "Okay, you're on." Starlight declared. "I'll prove it right now. Just make it quick." "As you wish." Discord snapped his eagle claws. The two were transported to a ridge, not too far from Ponyville. "Okay, now what?" Starlight asked. "Unless checking out the scenery counts as 'fun', I'm not impressed." "I know just how to start off the fun!" Discord declared. He conjured up a flying pig for him to ride on. "How about a race?" "No way." Starlight shook her head. "There is absolutely no-" Discord snapped his claws, and Starlight found herself riding a similar pig. "Of course..." She groaned. "Let's see if you can handle your steed better than Trixie did hers!" Discord slapped the rear of Starlight's pig, sending it flying ahead, squealing. "Whoa!" Starlight yelped, hanging on for dear life. "And away they go!" Discord smirked, his own steed catching up. "Come on, at least try and race!" "And how do I that?" Starlight asked. "It's all in the ears!" Discord tweaked the ears of his pig to the left, causing it to turn that way. Starlight followed suit, slowly but surely gaining control of her steed. "I think I'm getting it!" She smiled. "That may be, but you can't beat me!" Discord teased. "Wanna bet?" Starlight smirked. "First one to the edge of that forest wins!" Discord pointed to a nearby group of trees. "You're on!" Starlight declared. The two racers flew towards their objective, steering their pigs around obstacles such as rock formations and birds. They were neck and neck as they neared the forest, but Discord gave his pig another slap, propelling him there first. "Oh, yeah!" He whooped, as he, Starlight and their steeds appeared on a winners' podium, Discord on the top. "Undefeated!" He waved a gold trophy with a statue of himself riding a pig around. "Whoo!" "Okay, I'll admit that was kind of fun." Starlight dismounted her steed. "Now, if that's all, I should really be getting back-" "Oh, but the fun has only just begun!" Discord declared. One flash of light later, and the path ahead of Starlight turned to soap. "Ever been soap sliding before?" Discord grinned. "Oh no." Starlight shook her head, remembering her brief experience with soapy ground from just before the rescue mission. "Don't even think abouuuuuut-!" Discord gave her a push, sending her skidding across the suds. "That's the spirit!" Discord joined her, giving himself an ice skating outfit. "Step, step, slide!" "Whoa..." Starlight struggled to maintain her balance. "Whoa..." "Come on!" Discord urged, his form perfect. "Go with the flow!" Starlight managed to steady herself, then control her path. It was starting to become... enjoyable. "Hey, this isn't so bad. Reminds me of when I went ice skating as a filly..." She made a sharp turn, rotating around Discord. "Nice moves!" Discord grinned. "Now watch this!" Discord effortlessly performed a triple salchow. "Impressive." Starlight admitted. "But how about this?" Starlight skidded in front of Discord, spraying him with bubbles, which formed a soapy beard around his face. "Oh, yeah?" Discord smirked. Discord, returning the favor, sprayed more bubbles on Starlight. "Okay, I guess I deserved that." Starlight chuckled. "Finally loosening up, huh?" Discord grinned. "Then let the fun continue!" Discord introduced Starlight to ever more wild and crazy activities, turning the ground into bouncy rubber, turning a waterfall into a bendy, twisty waterslide, and turning the forest from before into an oversized swing set, the two swinging from vine to vine. After all that fun, Starlight needed a rest. Discord turned a bed of flowers into actual beds for them to lie on. "So... still think I don't know how to have fun?" Starlight asked. "I'll admit, I may have misjudged you in that respect." Discord shrugged. "You rose to the bait most splendidly." "...Wait, what?" Starlight frowned. "What, you haven't figured it out yet?" Discord grinned. "I only teased you over not knowing how to have fun to get you out here." "...Of course you did." Starlight sighed, realizing she had been played like a cheap harmonica. "And why did you do that?" "I wanted to have fun with you, of course." Discord shrugged. "After our little adventure at the Changeling hive, I felt like we could use a little merriment together. Help us bond a little more, y'know?" "You know, you could have just said that, instead of concocting some elaborate scheme." Starlight pointed out. "Eh, this way was more fun." Discord shrugged. "And you did have fun, didn't you?" "Yes, I did." Starlight smiled. "You're a really fun guy, Discord." "You're not so bad yourself, sister." Discord grinned. "And It was a pretty good way to pass the time until- Oh no." Starlight suddenly froze up. "How long have we been out here?" "Beats me." Discord shrugged. "A few hours, maybe?" "We've got to get back." Starlight gulped. "Twilight's meeting with the mayor is probably long over by now. She's going to flip her lid!" "Well, if that's the case, there's no rush." Discord said nonchalantly. "If she's already angry by now, I doubt a few more minutes is going to make a difference." "Please, Discord." Starlight pleaded. "Take us back right now." "Oh, very well." Discord snapped his claws. In a flash of light, the two returned to the study. "And here we are." Discord declared. "Back in the boring old study." "I just hope Twilight won't be too mad-" Starlight started. She was cut off by Twilight entering the study, a deeply irritated look on her face. "Starlight, where have you been?" Twilight growled. "I've been looking for you for hours! We were supposed to be tackling your friendship lessons, but you just up and disappeared!" "I, er..." Starlight gulped. "I have to say, I'm very disappointed." Twilight remarked. "This isn't like you at all, Starlight. Just ducking out on me like that..." Twilight's gaze settled on Discord. "I'm guessing you had something to do with this, Discord?" She glared at him. "Well, actually..." Starlight began. "That's right." Discord stepped in. "It was me. Rotten old Discord, dragging your precious student away from her studies for a day of goofing off, merry-making, and general rowdiness. That sounds just like something I would do, doesn't it?" Discord's tail sprouted a second head, which winked at Starlight. "Is this true, Starlight?" Twilight frowned. "I... well..." Starlight looked between the disapproving Twilight and the encouraging Discord, and reached a hard decision. "...No, it's not. Discord didn't actually drag me along. I agreed to go, of my own free will. It was my choice, and I knew the consequences. You should blame me, and not Discord." "Well, thanks for stepping all over my selfless act of scapegoating myself." Discord rolled his eyes. "Waste of a perfectly good performance..." "I couldn't let you take all the blame." Starlight smiled weakly. "It just wouldn't be right. Go ahead, Twilight. Let me have it..." Twilight glared at Starlight, incensed... then sighed deeply. "I really should be more angry about this." She shook her head. "But seeing you stand up for a friend like that is actually very impressive. Instead of letting Discord take all the blame, you admitted to your own part in things. That's something a good friend would do." "Really?" Starlight smiled. "Really." Twilight nodded. She then turned to Discord. "You too, Discord. Trying to defend Starlight like that was very noble of you." "Maybe I just wanted to tick you off." Discord snorted. "Ever think of that?" "And I suppose you must have had quite a bonding experience while playing your little game of hooky." Twilight admitted. "We could call that a session of 'independent study'. You're more than free to do so again sometime." "Really?" Starlight smiled. "Of course." Twilight nodded. "Having fun and bonding with friends is an essential part of your studies. Just try and give me a heads up before you go, so I won't spend hours worrying about where you've gone." "Will do." Starlight nodded. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a late afternoon tea with Fluttershy to get to." Discord announced. He conjured up a calendar. "But I may be able to squeeze in some time for you two over the weekend." He chuckled lightly. "Funny, my social calendar never used to be this full... well, see you gals later!" Discord vanished in his trademark flash of light. "So... you two had fun?" Twilight asked Starlight. "Sure did." Starlight nodded. "So much that I lost track of time. Sorry." "Well, the day's not over yet." Twilight shrugged. "We might be able to fit in a few notes about altruism before sundown..." "Sounds good to me." Starlight smiled. "All that fun has left me exhausted. Some nice, relaxing studying is just what I need..." Teacher and student returned to the library. Starlight had learned something that wasn't exactly on the lesson plan, but was important nonetheless. And from the unlikeliest of sources, too. She made a mental note to make more room for fun in her schedule from then on, and to always make sure her teacher knew about such excursions. Better to be safe than sorry, after all...